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Lessons in Creativity for Kids…for All

One of my favorite musical artists for a very long time has been Charlie Peacock. His music and lyrics speak to my soul. I listened to his Everything That’s On My Mind CD so many times I nearly wore it out. You can ask my family. They got kind of sick of it.

Years ago Charlie and his wife, Andi, started a ministry called Art House (now called Art House America). My understanding is that it was originally a “think tank” for musicians to incubate their art in a nurturing, Christian setting. They have now expanded the ministry to include, amongst other things, visual arts, writing, stage and screen, food, and creation care.

Andi has written a new article on the Art House America web site entitled Raising Artful Children. It is a masterful piece, and well worth the short time it takes to read it. Although she writes in the article about how to nurture creativity in children, I believe her words speak to all people who have a “creative spark” (which I believe is all people).

Read her article here. Then, please, let me know what you think of it. How does the article encourage your own creativity? How does it encourage you to nurture creativity in others?

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Baby-Sized Potential

When you’re a pastor you get to be with people at the most important and memorable moments of their lives. Today I got to hold a newborn baby, only hours old, while I chatted with the parents and discussed things like length of hospital stay, length of labor, and length of the child.

I got to hold the baby for a good half an hour. And as I stared into that little face, I couldn’t help but wonder about all the potential locked inside that baby body. Would he be a left-handed pitcher? (Most of his family is left-handed.) Would he be a writer…an artist…an athlete…a teacher…a fireman…a pastor? Would he be a good student? Would he play Little League? Would he sing in choirs? Would he one day be a culinary expert or a car fanatic?

Just what is locked up inside that little body and brain, ready to explode into a life well lived? I really hope that these two parents get to have the joy of watching realized potential in their son like my wife and I have been able to watch in both of our children. Knowing these two, I know they will. They will be parents who care for, and nurture, and provide for, and encourage, and support, and love.

But more than all of that, they will see to it that this little boy is connected to Jesus. In just a short couple of weeks he will be baptized, and the death and resurrection of the Savior of the world will be planted into that little heart. Sins will be forgiven. Faith will be founded. Eternal life will begin.

The potential of this child is not just “this worldly.” His potential is eternal. His potential is guaranteed. His potential will be made complete in the Water and the Word.

Welcome to this world, Samuel David! And welcome to the world that is to come. All of your earthly and heavenly potential is guaranteed by the only One who can make such guarantees.

What potential have you seen realized? Please post a response that shows the miracle of potential. I’d love to hear your stories!

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One Word

Today, as we often do, my friend, John, and I had an interesting exchange by email. Here’s how it went. My email was the one word, “Interesting,” followed by a link that he could click through to read an article. His email response was the one word, “Wow.” That’s not the first time we’ve had exchanges like that.

The relationship that John and I have is a relationship that can be sustained with one-word conversations. It can even be sustained with telephone conversations that end abruptly because something pressing comes up, someone else walks into the room, or we get another phone call. Neither of us is offended if that happens. Neither of us hangs up in a snit. Our friendship allows us to carry on the conversation the next time we talk…whenever that might be.

Though we live in different cities, over the years we have forged a friendship and relationship that doesn’t have to be sustained by many words, but is sustained by a genuine and deep love for one another. When John’s wife, Janet, died, I felt honored that he could be brutally honest with me about the raw emotions he experienced at the time. From the time Janet had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, John and I either spoke, wrote, texted, or emailed one another nearly every single day. I felt it was not only my “duty” as a friend to “be there” for him; but it also helped me work through the feelings I experienced for John, with John, and with my own family as we struggled.

The main thing that helped us through, and sustains our relationship to this day is not only our one-word conversations, but the One Word. Neither of us are perfect. There are times we have hurt one another. There are times when we’ve asked for forgiveness from one another. But those things have only made our relationship stronger. Our relationship is more than just an earthly one. We know that because of the One Word, who became flesh and dwells among us, our relationship is one that is painted against the backdrop of eternity. It is a true treasure, sustained by the One Word.

Martin Luther wrote of the devil that “one little word (could) fell him.” That “little word” is Jesus. When the devil tries to wreck relationships, the One Word is there to repair. But He does so much more than repair; He feeds, sustains, and gifts relationships so that they have an eternally enduring quality.

Do you have a relationship that can be sustained even with one-word conversations? I’d love to hear your stories and examples…

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Creative Kids

One of the unspoken goals of our parenting was to bring our children up knowing that they had the freedom to be creative. It has been fulfilling to see them both pursue creative careers, and to be enjoying the creative processes of which they have been a part in college.  One is well on her way to becoming an actor (Ashlyn is a senior at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska).  The other is well on his way to using his musical ability in some way, shape, or form (Ben is a sophomore at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee).

Ashlyn is currently working on a modern adaptation of the play Iphigenia. Ben is currently working on a 5 song EP that ought to be available a little bit later this fall.

One of the truly gratifying things is that they are both actively involved in their churches in their respective cities. They have given their creative gifts to their local church families. Creativity and Christianity do, indeed, mix.

In fact, Ben blew me away last night with the blog that he wrote about bringing creativity even into “hanging out” time with friends. You can read it here.

In two weeks we get to see Iphigenia. At the beginning of December we get to attend “Christmas at Belmont” where Ben will be participating as a member of the Belmont Chorale.

With creative kids, there’s always something on the horizon to look forward to. I can’t wait to see what 2011 brings.

How do you encourage creativity in your kids? Where do you go to find inspiration in your own life?

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Eager Learning

As I was passing our school’s second grade classroom today, I heard the teacher ask a question and looked in the door just in time to see one of the second graders practically jump out of his seat.  His finger tips were pointing to the ceiling, his knees were up on his seat, and his mouth was curled in a circle saying, “Ooh, ooh, ooh!” That boy was so eager to answer the question he almost fell out of the desk. I had to smile, because I can remember being that kid in the desk wanting so badly to be the one who got to answer the question. What a wonderful picture it was of eagerness to learn.

John is a member of our congregation. He is a pastor. He is a college professor. He is an author. And he is a fantastic teacher. It’s because he is still a learner. While he works out, he watches video tapes of lectures in various disciplines. For instance, he recently watched one on the way the human brain works. John brought what he learned into a Bible class he taught and enhanced the lecture in a way that drew everyone in. He reminded us how incredible it is that God makes things in just the perfect way to serve their perfect purpose.

Then there is Stephen Hawking. He is the renowned physicist who is one of the world’s greatest learners. He used to think that there was a least a possibility that God could have been involved in the creation of the universe. In his most recent book he now says God was not involved in the creation of the universe. I wonder where he learned that?

Hawking’s physics are far above and beyond anything I could understand. I couldn’t even come close to arguing the finer points of quantum theory. But I have learned from God’s own Word that the more I learn about Him, His creation of the universe, His redemption of fallen humankind, His willingness to sacrifice His Son, and His deliverance of forgiveness into my life through Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the more I want to learn.

Eager learning from God’s Word makes all the difference in everyday life. It makes complicated things much more simple. It makes helping others a whole lot easier. It brings peace, hope, and joy into my life. I am always eager to learn more. And I am so thankful for the eager learner’s of God’s Word who have taught me.

I want to be that eager second grade learner every day.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go teach a class called “The Bible” to a group of 30 college students. I hope my eager learning rubs off on them.

What do you do to make learning a priority in your life?

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Is It Mute or Is It Moot?

So…I tipped my spleen a bit on Facebook yesterday, and boy did it get a response. This is what I posted — “Pet Peeve: It’s not a MUTE point…it’s a MOOT point! Stop. Saying. It’s. A. MUTE. Point!” All kinds of people “liked” my status.

Then people started adding their own pet peeves regarding language misuse:

  • How about the misuse of “literally.”  As in, “I told my mom and she literally exploded!” Really? Bits of her went flying everywhere in a big boom?
  • “I could care less.” Ummm…are you sure that’s what you mean?
  • I want a person’s interest to be piqued–rather than peaked or peeked.
  • It’s realtor NOT real-a-tor.
  • I’m tired of hearing about “object failure.”
  • How about ath-a-letic? Isn’t it athletic?
  • Add IRregardless to that list…cringe-worthy, indeed.
  • Nuclear, not nuc-ya-ler.
  • I used to hear people refer to the liberry.

And finally:

  • I am mute on the subject simply because it is so moot!

Sometimes I want to hit the MUTE button when I hear our language being so abused and misused.

What about you? What pet peeves do you have regarding misuse of the English language?

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Words: The Beauty of the English Language

The English language is full of beautiful words that can take on different and various meanings. The video link below is a series of moving pictures that tell the story of  different words. It’s a masterful piece. Thanks to my son, Ben, for sharing it with me.

This video also reminds me how very amazing it is that the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us…and continues to give us the gift of His presence through the Word of the Holy Scriptures. Word and flesh bring life and salvation into everyday situations like the ones you are about to see:

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A Midrash on Psalm 100

For hundreds of years rabbis, poets, pastors, and writers have been writing midrash. A midrash is a story that “fills in the gaps.” It takes something from Scripture, or another story, and fills in what’s missing.  Here’s a midrash I wrote on Psalm 100 as part of a Creative Writing Seminar:

The earth was noisy, but it was a silent kind of noisy. People and animals everywhere were screaming, and yelling, and shouting so loudly that the man could only hear himself speak; the lion could only hear himself roar; the woman could only hear herself cry; the cricket could only hear itself chirp.  The world was so very loud that it was actually quiet.  Ears could only hear the sound of selfishness; and though there was noise, the noise had no purpose.

So the cry went up loud, and long, and bold enough for every one and every thing to hear. It was like a Last Day Trumpet:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”  And there was silent silence.  The man stopped speaking.  The lion stopped roaring.  The woman stopped crying.  The cricket stopped chirping.  The universe was so silent that it was almost deafening.

So the cry went up loud, and long, and bold enough for every one and every thing to hear once again. It was like a full-blown chorus of angels:  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”  And you couldn’t even hear crickets chirping.

The silence lasted for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the tiny ant who, upon the hue and cry, had stopped right in his tracks as he was taking his grain of sand to use in the building of his new hill, let out the teeniest, tiniest, high-pitched “alleluia” you have ever heard.  The universe had become so very silent that even if you were a hundred thousand miles away you could hear it.

Still there was silence. So he shouted again.  This time no longer the teeniest, tiniest, high-pitched “alleluia” you have ever heard, but just a little louder than that.

Still there was silence. So he shouted a third time, at the top of his tiny ant lungs:  “Alleluia! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

And lo and behold, the cricket started chirping a song of praise…and before long a whole herd of crickets did the same. Then the woman started laughing a hearty laugh of joy…and before long all of her friends and family with her.  It wasn’t long before the lion roared a roar that affirmed the True King…and before long all the other lions and all of their subjects did as well.

And the man? The man spoke…no, he shouted…no, he sang…no he danced…no, he pointed his whole voice and his whole being toward the Lord.  Pretty soon the cry that had once been heard only by the one making the cry, came together with insects, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and men, and women…and angels, to form the most beautiful chorus of “alleluias” ever heard.  There was dancing, and instruments, and painting, and song, and weaving, and poetry, and praise…a joyful noise directed to the Lord by all the earth.  It was a noisy noise that was music to the ears of the Lord.

What’s a story that has gaps which need to be filled?  I’d love to see your ideas!

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Garbage Man Guilt

Have you ever seen boldness and humility work together to make a pleasing outcome from sticky situation?

This week the “garbage people” (one of them was a woman) didn’t take our garbage because we had all kinds of stuff piled up from our flooded basement. I went out to the alley and saw the garbage men down a ways and gestured to them like “why didn’t you take our garbage.” They of course gestured back with shrugged shoulders (at least it wasn’t a worse gesture!).

So out comes my wife who proceeds to walk all the way down to the garbage people, and humbly ask them to come back and pick up our smelly junk. They said they didn’t do it because it was more than the regulations allowed them to take. But Tammy boldly explained that the “junk” included our neighbors stuff as well.

A little while later they came back and picked up our garbage. When they did, Tammy went out and thanked them profusely…not only for what they were doing now, but for what they do all the time (see my last post: “A Dirty, Thankful Job”).

A little bold humility goes a long way. St. Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel even in the humility of prison and personal problems. Jesus Himself was humbly bold when He dealt with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Money Changers. Psalm 138 reminds us that when we call upon the Lord in humble boldness and He will answer us. He may not change the situation…but He will change us!  That’s what God’s forgiveness works and does. “On the day I called, you answered me” (Psalm 138:3).

Bold humility. It’s an interesting concept, don’t you think?

What examples of bold humility can YOU share with ME?